"Right now there's no limit for non-consensual towing," Austin said. "What we've done is set a standard amount that a towing company can charge. We've also set guideline on the way the money is collected, reported - all the things the people who have been victims on non-consensual towing have complained about."

Austin said lots with poor signage or no signage at all lure and trap unsuspecting drivers , who are then forced to pay hundreds of dollars to retrieve their cars.

Booting for several years has remained an issue for the council with a stream of complaints from people whose vehicles have been targeted. New rules, some argue, are needed to put a lock on aggressive car booting on Southside and downtown that damage commerce and tourism.

On the other side, property owners have said they needed a method to control unauthorized parking on their property.

Among the new rules, towing companies must have a sticker issued by the police department prominently displayed on the passenger side of the rear windshield of each tow vehicle. In addition, detailed logs must be kept for each vehicle locked or towed. Detailed instructions for parking lot signage is also outlined.

"The thing is, I don't want to make it difficult for property owners to protect their properties, but the property owners need to make sure their lots aren't Venus Flytraps," Austin said. "They have an obligation to not prey unfairly on unsuspecting visitors to the city. We've just tried to make the law more clearly defined."

During the discussion, Councilman Steven Hoyt said he recently witnessed the need for regulations when he tried to assist a group of visitors who were booted on Southside.

The parking lot wasn't clearly marked and the international visitors didn't know that parking was prohibited, Hoyt said.

"I looked at the signage and I couldn't tell when I looked around that the signage was there," Hoyt said. "These folks meandered there and didn't understand that it was private property."

Hoyt said the incidents leave bad impressions of the city.

"We shouldn't treat guests to our city and people who are spending money in our restaurants this way," he said.

The 48-page ordinance details minute requirements for allowed towing and booting, even the attire of parking lot enforcers. The rules prohibit tank tops , cut offs or shirts with offensive or suggestive language.

"Shoes must be worn at all times in the manner for which they were designed," the document states. "A vehicle immobilization operator may not wear beach or shower thongs. A vehicle immobilization operator and the operator's clothing must conform to basic standards of hygiene and be neat, clean, and sanitary at all times."

The provision was added provide some uniformity and identification to towers and booters, said Councilwoman Valerie Abbott, who is also a member of the Public Safety Committee.

Abbott said vehicle owners at times have complained that they didn't know if there were being legally towed or carjacked.

"It's a very dangerous situation when you're trying to take someone's car, so it's just as much for the booter's safety as it is for the car owners," Abbott said.